I am a big fan of technology. Heck, I started a couple of tech magazines. I am such a fan of science and tech, and all things geeky. I really do think AI and robotics are cool.
But lately, these robots and their AI kin have run amok, and it’s time we chat about them and their attempts to bring down our civilization as we know it.
First off, constantly having to verify who I am through seven layers of tests when I want to search the web is out of control. To just do a Google search, I have to show who I am by strange little puzzles and quizzes to prove that I am not a robot, when in fact, I am being quizzed by a robot.
It is literally a robot asking me to prove I am not a robot every time I need to look up some obscure fact on Google, and frankly, it is getting to be exhausting and somewhat insulting. You can’t tell I’m a human just by my search history?
Because I have multiple Google IDs, it is a constant trip through the matrix to do simple searches or lookups. Being challenged by Google security isn’t the flex you might think it is, and the multi-format security is a bit much. Why can’t my phone know who I am using biometrics and then let the Google secret service know I am okay?
I am all for protecting identity and safe searching (as if that is a thing with all our search history for sale on the dark web and data breaches being the norm — thanks, AT&T), but this is so annoying that I’d rather they just steal my identity and let me cruise the web unencumbered.
Speaking of robots going too far—let’s talk about tips. Just the tip.
The other day, I was flying through Chicago O’Hare and helped myself to a sugary caffeine bomb known as a bottled Starbucks frappuccino at the self-serve kiosk. I picked up the bottle, scanned it, and before I could pay with a card, it prompted me for a tip.
Who was I tipping? Cybertron?
The computer robot I was using for self-checkout? The free-standing kiosk itself? Or, here is a great idea. What if the tip was going to me for doing a great job at handling the checkout? This actually is kind of a good idea.
Since I don’t think it works that way, and I am a former bartender and a very generous tipper, I have a rule for tipping robots at the airport.
Tell your AI robot overlord buddies at Google to stop challenging me 18 ways when I want to Google some obscure fact so I can win a bar bet. That in and of itself will be worthy of me tipping you for checking out my coffee at the airport.
Deal?
Now, I will just need you to finish this CAPTCHA to prove you are not a human and we are good.
